Semaphore-operating apparatus



(No Model.) I

- J. S. LYNAM.

SEMAPHORE OPERATING APPARATUS.

Patented Nov. 13, 1894.

o'raLn'ua, WASHXNGTON n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN S. LYNAM, OF WINCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF TWO- THIRDS TOCHARLES S. COLLINS AND GEORGE F. ADAMS, OF NASHUA, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

SEMAPHORE-OPERATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,961, dated November13, 1894. Application filed April 26, 1894:. Serial No. 509,074- (Nomodel.)

To on whom it may concern.- rods D, D; and F, F, the operating wirescon- Be it known that 1, JOHN S. LYNAM, a citinecting the levers E, E,with the switches or zen of the United States, residing at Winothersemaphore operating devices.

chester, in the county of Middlesex and State The semaphore B is of theordinary type of Massachusetts, have invented certain new used byrailways and is pivoted to the upper and useful Improvements inSema'phOre-Opend of the post A at the point b. Two or more cratingApparatus; and I do hereby declare hollow arms C, C, are pivotallyconnected to the following to be a full, clear, and exact dethe loweredge of the semaphore B so as to be scription of the invention, such aswill enable free to swing below the same from right to to others skilledin the art to which it apperleft. The arms are preferably made of dif-6o tains to make and use the same. ferent lengths so as not to interferewith each My invention relates to improvements in other when in actionand to allow their actusemapnore operating apparatus and has paratingmechanism to be mounted on the post ticular relation to that class ofsemaphores A at different points.

15 which are connected to and operated by two The levers E, E arepivoted to the post A or more railway switches, sidings or other 'sigate, 6 respectively so as to be in horizontal nal operating devices and itconsists of the planes slightly below the ends of the arms combinationof a movable semaphore pro- C, C, when the latter are in their raisedpovided with two or more pendent hollow arms, sition as shown in Fig. 1.

2o movable rods adapted to slide within said The rods D,D, have theirrespective lower arms to a limited extent so as to independends pivotedto the ends of the levers E, E ently support or allow the descent of theand are adapted to slide within the arms C, latterand means forconnecting the rods to C. These rods are each provided with lugsswitches or other signal operating devices. 0 which are adapted toengage the ends of 25 It also consists of the combination of a pivthehollow arms C, C, and thus support them oted semaphore provided withpivoted pendin their raised position. The levers E, E, are ent hollowarms, rods adapted to slide within each provided with counterbalanceweights said arms and provided with projections that f, f, which areadapted to bring said levers to are adapted to support said arms,pivoted a horizontal position when they are released 0 weighted leversconnected to and adapted to from all restraint of the wires F, F, whichare operate said rods and means for connecting attached to their outerends and connect them said levers to switches or other signal operatwiththeir respective switches or other signal ing devices whereby saidlevers may be opoperating devices. erated independently. The operationof the device is as follows:

5 It also consists of certain other construc- When a switch or sidingconnected to the tions and combinations as will be hereinafter main lineis opened, the wire connecting it to more fully described andspecifically claimed. the semaphore (say wire F) is thereby slack- Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1. ened and thus permits the lever Eto rise and represents a side elevation of the devices emthrusts thelugs c of the rod D against the 0 bodying my invention, and Fig. 2.represents lower end of the hollow arm C and raises said a detailcentral vertical section through a porarm and the semaphore which isconnected tion of one of the hollow arms and its actuatthereto. Ifanother switch is opened (say that ing rod. Y connected to lever E) saidlever will also rise A in the drawings, represents the semaand bothlevers will be in the position shown 45 phore supporting post; B, thesemaphore or in Fig. 1, with the semaphore at danger. 5 signal pivotedat the upper end of the same; When either one or the other of theswitches C, C, hollow arms pendent from the said is closed it pulls downthe lever and rod consemaphore; D, D, rods adapted to slide withinnected thereto but the signal remains at dansaid arms; E, E, weightedlevers pivoted to ger as the other switch is open and its lever 50 thepost A and carrying the lower ends of the and rod are up and supportingthe hollow arm Ioc of the semaphore. It will be readily seen that thelatter switch must be closed also before its lever and rod can descendand permit the semaphore to drop to safety.

Any number of switches or other signal operating devices can beconnected to one semaphore but they must all be at safety before thesemaphore will drop to safety as if one alone remains open or at danger,its lever and rod will support the semaphore.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a semaphore operating mechanismthe combination of a suitable supporting post, a semaphore pivotedthereto, two or more pendent hollow arms connected to said semaphore,movable arms adapted to slide within said arms to a limited extent so asto independently support or allow the descent of the latter and meansfor connecting the rods to the switches or other signal operatingdevices, substantially as described.

2. In a semaphore operating mechanism the combination of a suitablesupporting post, a semaphore pivoted thereto, pendent hollow armsconnected to said semaphore, rods adapted to slide within said arms to alimited

